Estimates of accuracy for genomic-only breeding values and flock profiles in Australian Merino sheep

As uptake of genomic-only estimated breeding values (GEBVs) and Flock Profiles – defined as the average GEBV from a random sample of approximately 20 animals from a commercial flock – expands within the Australian sheep industry, the need for accurate and reliable results becomes increasingly critical. Currently, GEBVs are presented without accuracy estimates, making it difficult to judge the genomic connectedness of the genotype to the reference population. This study aims to develop and implement a robust methodology for estimating the accuracy of GEBVs and Flock Profiles. Building on existing genetic evaluation accuracy frameworks, we propose a new method that can be integrated into routine evaluations, providing users with confidence in the reliability of their results.